Circuit closer



Aug. 6, 1940. Q T, WOOD 2,210,313

CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed April 13, 1939 INVENTOR O/PI// Z' WOOD ATTORNEYS 15ator.

Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CLOSERApplication April 13, 1939, Serial No. 267,543

7 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to circuit closers for flashlights andhand lanterns, although not so limited. More particularly, the inventionrelates to a circuit closer of the kind known in the art as atwo-position switch, that is, one in which the actuating member of theswitch has two definite positions, first, an open circuit position inwhich the electric circuit is open and, second, a closed circuitposition in which the electric circuit is closed.

One object of this invention is to provide a two-position switchconstruction which is denitely and positively prevented from closing theelectrical circuit except at the will of the oper- Accordingly, theslidable switch actuating member carries a movable locking device, suchas a button, normally and preferably yieldingly held in a recess oraperture, say, in the switch housing, in open circuit position and whichmust 2p be released therefrom by the operator for movement to closedcircuit position.

Another object of the invention is a circuit closer of the characterdescribed which can be readily released for movement to closed circuitposition by the same action of the linger or thumb in moving the slidingoperating member to closed circuit positionv The invention also seeks apractical and simple two-position circuit closer for flashlights and 3oelectric hand lanterns which is practical from the standpoint of easeand cheapness of manufacture, simplicity of assembly and in number ofparts, and certainty and convenience of operation.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingillustrating one embodiment by which ,lo the invention may be realizedand in which:

Figure l is a View, in longitudinal section, showing a portion of aflashlight casing to which the switch of this invention is applied, theswitch being shown in open circuit and locked position;

andy Figure 2 is 'a view similar to Figure l, but with the parts shownin closed circuit position.

A fragmentary portion of the battery containing casing of a flashlightor an electric hand I5,0 lantern is indicated at 5. In the illustratedembodiment, the circuit closer is shown as applied to a tubular orcylindrical battery containing flashlight casing which, if desired, maybe of increased diameter, as at l, to receive the reilector and partsassociated therewith, such as the lamp socket support. The casing 5 isprovided with a recess 8, formed by contiguous depressed portions 9,lil, terminating at the forward end of the recess 8 in a slot l2. Theslot I2 is formed by severing the depressed portion 9, I0 of I5 thecasing from the forwardly disposed portion M of the casing, whereby apassage is afforded between the recess 8 and the interior of the casingfor the passage of a contact member 32. The casing 5 is also pierced atIt for an eyelet 10 or rivet I8.

A switch housing 2D covering or enclosing the recess 8 is formed with aforwardly extending tab portion 2l at its front end and a flange portion23 at its sides and rear, the side portions 15 being so shaped anddisposed as to contact with the peripheral surface of the casing 5 oneither side of the depressed portion 9, i0. The housing 20 is securelyattached at its forward end to the casing 5 by engagement of the tabportion 2| v2i) in the slot l2. At the rear, the flange 23 is secured tothe casing by the rivet I8 in the aperture I6.

Slidable in a longitudinal direction on the switch housing 20 is anoperating member 26 25 which is conveniently stamped or pressed ininverted dish shape with a lip or ange 22 which rests on and slides onthe upper surface of the housing 2i). From each side edge of theoperating member 26 depends an ear 2S which extends through one of apair of parallel longitudinally extending spaced slots 30 in the uppersurface ofk the housing 2D, as will be understood.

Within the housing 20 and in the recess 8 formed by the depressedportions 9, i0 is a con- '35 tact member v.i2-3&1- taking the form of anelongated strip or ribbon of relatively stiif material having thedesired degree of resiliency, the rear end of which is oli-set upwardlyas at 33,

Sli to lie within the housing 2i! and with thea() rearward end 34 insubstantial sliding engagement with the underneath side of the top wallof the housing 2B. The contact member extends forwardly from the off-setportion 33, 34 conveniently to a companion contact (not shown) at 45 theforward end of the flashlight. It will be understood, however, that theextension 32 may take any desired shape whereby it may be used to openand close a circuit. It has heretofore been proposed, in copendingapplication Serial 50 No. 96,364 led August l'l, 1936, to form aflashlight casing with a depressed portion having a passage at one endopening into the casing interior and through which a circuit closingmember passes. 4,55

Rearwardly the oiT-set portion 34 of the contact member is apertured, asat 35, to receive a cup-shaped flanged button 36, 31, 36 lying at alltimes within the aperture 35 and limited in its upward movement by theange 3l. The button 36 is adapted, in open circuit position, to enter anaperture 39 formed in the top wall of housing 20, at which position theaperture 35 in the contact strip registers with the aperture 39. Beneaththe off-set portion 34 of the contact member is disposed a leaf spring46, also movable with the sliding operating member 26, and preferablyhaving its rear end 4l bent upwardly to engage the flange 31 on thebottom of the button 36, 3l and urge it upwardly either against thebottom of the top wall of the housing 20 in advanced or closed circuitposition or into the aperture 39 thereof in retracted open circuit orlocking position.

The off-set end 34 of the contact member and the leaf spring 40 aresecured together to slide with `the operating member by means of theears 28 which pass through cut away portions of the members 34 and 40and whereof the lower ends re bent, as at 29, beneath the leaf spring,all in a well known manner.

In the open circuit position shown in Figure 1, the button 36 isdisposed within the aperture 39 and the contact member passing throughthe passage l2 is locked against accidental displacement. Preferably theoperating member 26 is provided in its rear end with a cut-away portion43, in which the button 36 is disposed when in locking position. Thiscut-away portion is substantially semi-circular in outline and upwardlyextending parts 45, in continuation of the raised portion of slide 26,extend on opposite sides of the cut-away part 43 to shield the buttonfrom accidental unlocking.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. Suice it to say that when the button 36 is within theaperture 39, the circuit closer end 34 is held in open circuit position,the button being retained in the aperture 39 by the leaf spring 46.When, however, the thumb or finger is applied to the slide 26 to advancethe same, it is conveniently applied at that portion of the slideproximate the button, so that when the same pressure is utilized thatadvances the slide to the closed circuit position shown in Figure 2, thebutton is depressed and slips beneath the top wall 20 of the housing.

In order to alford ample clearance for the button during depression andin its depressed position with the leaf spring depressed, a portion l0of the casing beneath the housing and rearwardly of the bottom portion 9of the recess is depressed but to a lesser extent, as shown at IU, toprovide a recess offering a clearance for the button.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in thecomposition, configuration and disposition of the component elementsgoing to make up the invention as a whole as well as in the partsthereof and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of theforegoing specication `or illustrations in the accompanying drawing eX-cept asI indicated in the appended claims. iWhat is claimed is:

1. Ina flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formedwith a recess, a switch housing covering the recess, a slidableoperating `member on the housing, a contact strip in the recessoperatively connected with theslidable operating member, said contactstrip and housing having apertures adapted to register at one positionof the switch, a button movable in the apertures and a leaf springurging the button upwardly in the apertures.

2. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formedwith a recess, a switch housing covering the recess, a slidableoperating member on the housing, a contactfs'trip in the recessoperatively connected with the slidable operating member, said contactstrip and housing having aperturesl adapted to register at one positionof the switch, a button movable in the apertures and a leaf springurging the button upwardly in the apertures, said operating member beingformed with a cut away portion adapted to register with a portion of theaperture in the housing in open circuit position.

3. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formedwith a depressed portion defining a recess having a bottom surfacehaving at least two portions at different elevations, a slidableoperating member on vthe housing, a contact strip in the recessoperatively connected with the slidable operating member,'said contactstrip and housing having apertures face of the recess of greaterelevation providing clearance for the locking button.

4. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formedwith a recess' having an opening into the casing interior, a switchhousing covering the recess, a slidable operating member on the housing,a contact strip in the recess and movable in the opening and having anupwardly off-set portion within the housing operatively connected withthe slidable operating member, said oir-set portion and housing havingapertures adapted to register at one position of the switch, a lockingbutton movable in the apertures, a leaf spring urging the buttonupwardly in the apertures, means to move the slidable operating memberand the off-set portions of the contact and the leaf spring in unison,said operating member being formed with a cut away portion adapted toregister with a portion of the aperture in the housing in open circuitposition, the depressed portion of the casing of less depth providingclearance for the locking button and that depressed portion of thecasing of greater depth providing clearance for the contact strip. l

5. In a ashlight, in combination, abattery containing casing formed witha recess, a switch' housing covering the reces-s, a slidable operatingmember on the housing, a conductive contact strip in the recess andhaving a portion within the housing, said contact strip and housinghaving apertures adapted to register at one posi-A tion of the switch, abutton movable in the apertures, a leaf spring urging the buttonupwardly in the apertures, means to move the slidable operating memberand the contact strip and the leaf spring in unison, said buttonengaging in the aperture in the housing in one position and beingbeneath the top wall of the housing in another position.

6. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formedwith a depressed por-1 tion defining a recess having a bottom surfacehaving at least two portions at different elevations, a housing for therecess, a slidable operating member on the housing movable betweena,

locked and an unlocked position, a contact strip in the recessoperatively connected with the slidable operating member, said Contactstrip and housing having aperturesadapted to register at one position ofthe operating member, a locking button movable in the apertures and aleaf spring having an angularly upturned end engaging and urging thelocking button upwardly in the apertures, said end being substantiallyhorizontal in unlocked position of the operating member to supportthelocking button, that portion of the bottom surface of the recess ofgreater elevation providing clearance for the locking button.

7. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery 15 containing casingwhereof the Wall comprises a housing portion and is formed with anaperture, a Contact strip within the casing, means formed with anaperture, a button normally in the last named aperture, spring meansurging the button upwardly in the apertures, means to move the contactstrip and apertured means in unison between a position wherein theapertures are in register and a position wherein the apertures areoffset with respect to one another whereby said butt-on engages in therst named aperture in one position and engages the lower surface of thewall of the casing at a point spaced from the rst aperture in the otherposition.

ORVILLE T. WOOD.

